Chapter 1: A New Heir

May, 1998

One month later…

Shiori stared blankly into the mirror on her vanity

A servant (Minako? Minaka?) is tentatively brushing her short black hair, careful to not pull whenever she comes across a knot. Shiori watched the older girl through the mirror. Looking closely Shiori could see the girl's hands tremble with each swipe.

It was only natural for them to be afraid. Shiori vaguely had a memory of having slapped the last girl who yanked her hair the last time it was brushed. The servants in the Kamo clan seemed to be walking on eggshells around her, having sensed something off after her so-called father put her on "bed rest" since that night.

Everything had changed since that fateful day. Shiori had woken up (was she still Shiori?) a different person than when she... died that fateful night.

Shiori had remembered.

Her world seemed to have gained sharper focus from her mind maturing overnight. Memories that were not her own (were her own?), from a life before she was Shiori had awakened in her mind. Saori had been a normal girl with a normal life until she died and ended up… here. The biggest memory that stood out to her however was her watching... an anime.

An anime called Jujutsu Kaisen.

Memories of the main protagonist Yuji Itadori and his friends fighting against curses, of Gojo Satoru -the chosen one- teaching his students. MegumiSukunaNoritoshiGetoSuguruKenjakuTojiStarplasmavesselSeasontwo-

The overload of information was starting to give her a headache.

The trauma of what she had gone through seemed to be what had triggered her memories. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise, Shiori could now see the future in a roundabout way after all.

Some days it was hard to tell what was her past and present. Her old and new memories had merged within her mind, naturally causing her to have a shift in personality.

Oh, and a new eye color.

Whenever Saori looked at herself in the mirror in the past, she would see her normal brown eyes (or were they green?), now Shiori had one brown eye and one green eye (or did they used to be brown?). The same shade of jade green she had in her past life. Her heterochromatic eyes seemed to be a physical manifestation of her inner… transformation. Shiori still felt like Shiori, but in other ways, she felt the influence of Saori guiding her actions.

The servants didn't seem to understand how to deal with her new disposition. Though Shiori had with her newfound maturity stopped being violent and quick to anger, in other ways she had become more eerie.

"Stop." Shiori ordered the girl.

The poor maid froze in her ministrations and immediately went into a dogeza position afraid to meet her eyes.

"F-forgive me Shiori-sama! I was in the-"

"Enough," Shiori said scoffing at the now-shaking maid "I'm thirsty, bring me some tea." Taking the brush the maid had dropped in fear, Shiori adjusted her bangs not bothering to even look down at the girl.

The maid looked like she was about to say something, but one glance down through the mirror from Shiori caused the girl to seize up.

"Yes, Shiori-sama." the maid cast her gaze back down onto the tatami floor. Shiori could practically smell the fear coming off her.

"Don't take too long Minako." Shiori waved her hand dismissing her.

"E-eh?" she seemed surprised Shiori knew her name.

"Do you not understand your orders?" Shiori's tone was even as she placed her comb on the vanity.

"N-no, Shiori-sama. I shall be back soon." Minako, careful to keep her gaze down, swiftly left the room to complete her orders.

Shiori now with only herself for company stared intently at her face in the mirror. It had taken her two weeks for her to look at her reflection and not be startled. Her features had changed and Shiori was still adjusting. Her once olive skin was now pale, her curly hair became straight, and her cheeks now contained an abundant amount of baby fat she wasn't used to looking at.

"Of all the places I could've ended up it had to be here…" she said to herself. What terrible luck she had to be reborn into such a cursed world. "Well, I don't plan on getting involved though."

Even with the foreknowledge, Shiori knew better than to get involved with plot devices. Shiori planned to live a very long life with no troubles. Even though Shiori was sure of her decision, Shiori felt a pang of guilt within herself that she decided to ignore. That was Saori's influence, Shiori never used to feel guilt before (but was it Saori's feelings? Or Shiori's?).

She decided to ignore her newfound conscience.

The one thing that hadn't changed about Shiori was her selfishness after all.


Minako rushed to the kitchen to carry out her master's orders. Minako was barely able to set the kettle on the stove before she was surrounded.

"Minako! How was she today?" Yui, a fellow servant, asked Minako with a severe expression on her face.

"Are the rumors true?" Another girl, Mugi, pressed.

"U-um" Minako wanted to ask them to leave her alone. The head's daughter was notorious for beating her servants if they so much as looked at her wrong. While the young girl hadn't done anything in a month, Minako didn't want to be the one who broke her streak. There was no servant in the Kamo clan who didn't know about her cruelty. Minako had metaphorically gotten the short end of the straw this month and had been assigned to serve her. No one envied her position.

"Has she said anything about her mother?" Mugi whispered into their huddle.

Minako froze. Talking about Takehiko-sama's wife was a sensitive topic nowadays. Officially the statement given to everyone was that Orihime-sama was grieving and needed time to soothe herself. The passing of her son, Junichiro-sama, had taken a big toll on her and that was why the woman hadn't set foot outside her room. Rumor among the servants however was that she did so out of fear… specifically of her own daughter.

Word spread last week after that Orihime-sama had gone into hysterics after a servant informed her that her daughter wanted to visit her. An excuse was given by the main branch that Orihime-sama couldn't bear to confront her second child after her favorite one died in mysterious circumstances. Everyone knew that was a lie. It was no secret that Orihime-sama scorned her daughter for reasons that were no fault of child's own.

"Enough girls, do I need to call Sumire-san?" Subaru-san, a middle-aged man with graying hair, had heard the commotion and came from the back to shoo the girls away from her.

Sumire-san used to be Shiori-sama's nanny before the woman had worked her way up to become the head of` maidservants. Her orders were only second to the clan head's wife. With Orihime-sama having taken ill, Sumire-san had been put in charge of all household manners.

The old woman was known to cater to the Shiori-sama's whims and dish out punishments in her name. Perhaps that was why she was the only one who could lecture the girl and get away scot-free from her wrath.

Minako breathed a sigh of relief as the crowd scuttled off from the cook's threat. Subaru-san was new among the servants, having been brought over from one of the branch houses.

The last chef had tried to poison Shiori-sama a couple of weeks ago. Minako hadn't even finished placing all the side dishes on the table before the girl had told her to throw everything away (how did she even know?). The next day the old chef along with two kitchen staff had disappeared. Everyone around Minako had acted like they never existed, as did she. There was an unspoken rule among the servants to pretend they hadn't seen anything when it came to people dropping like flies around the girl. Minako woke up every day praying that she wouldn't become the next unspoken thought among the servants.

"Thank you Subaru-san." Minako gave her thanks as she grabbed a tray to carry everything on.

"Hold on, take this with you too." The older man disappeared into the back before coming out and presenting her with a slice of chocolate cake.

"Cake?" Minako hesitantly took the china plate that was holding the confectionary from his hands.

"Shiori-sama has had a sweet tooth nowadays. I just made it, so nothing could have been slipped in."

Indeed, Minako could smell the fresh scent of the chocolate from it. The man had also covered the slice in a generous amount of whipped cream and a berry drizzle. Minako felt like she would get cavities simply from staring at it for too long.

"I'll send her your regards." Minako said, placing the plate on her tray.

"Don't listen to the rumors, Shiori-sama isn't as cruel as everyone thinks."

Minako gave the man a disbelieving expression but chose to say nothing. The kettle on the stove started to whistle in the silence that formed between them.

He can only say that because he hasn't seen what we have, Minako thought to herself.

Minako carefully poured the water into the teapot to warm it up before readying the Earl Gray tea leaves. Shiori-sama had gotten a weird taste for English tea and nowadays. Sumire-san had stocked the kitchen pantry with every type of English tea on the planet having noticed the girl's change in taste buds.

"She's changed since Junichiro-sama's passing. She's more mature now." The man pulled out a box of cigarettes from his pocket and took one out to smoke.

Minako thought of how Shiori-sama had known what her name was, even though she had never managed to remember it since she came to work for the main family a couple years ago.

"Subaru-san please don't smoke in-"

"They say Takehiko-sama is planning to make her his next heir," ignoring her he placed a cigarette between his lips before walking over to the open kitchen window and lighting it. "It would do you good to stay in her good graces." he said after a long drag.

Shiori-sama? Heir of the Kamo clan? While the girl had awakened the clan's iconic blood technique a month ago it was still too early to spout such nonsense. While Noritoshi was a concubine's son, he was still a son. Minako didn't think the clan would even entertain the idea of having women as clan head, it had never been done before. It was the same for the others of the Gosanke.

But… if there was a new rumor going around…

Minako felt hope well up inside for a split second before she squashed it.

"Is that what this cake is? A bribe?"

"Our livelihoods might depend on her after all..." he didn't even sound sorry as he took a long drag.

"...you expect too much from this clan." was all she could say before taking her tray of items and leaving.

Even if Shiori-sama does become clan head... Minako thought.

Nothing would change.


Red-red-red-red-red-red-red-red-red-red.

Shiori felt her pupils blown within her eyes, absorbing the sight in front of her.

The smell of iron. The sight of organs splattered everywhere. The warmth of the blood on her face -

Shiori gasped awake.

Her room was quiet with only her labored breathing filling the room. Shiori could feel her cold sweat soaking her yukata as she sat up in her bed. She cursed as she composed herself and grabbed the pitcher of water on her nightstand, pouring herself a cup of water.

She thought she had gotten away that day unscathed, but nowadays nightmares often plagued her dreams (I'm scared of blood…). Shiori had told herself she had only gotten stronger since that day. To others, it may have been a tragedy, but Shiori had finally gotten her lifelong wish of having a cursed technique. Her mother could no longer shame her for being weak and her father who could not even remember he had a daughter half the time now went out of his way to have dinner with her. Her brother who took away everything that should have been hers to begin with was now gone. Every day her position in the family was getting higher as news spread of her Junichiro's death (I am finally loved...).

Shiori shook her head, not wanting to listen to the voice whispering in her mind. She no longer cared what her parents thought of her or craved their affections. She wasn't a child.

I am you, you are me, we are one.

Shiori screamed before throwing her glass across her room, shattering it.

Loving parents? What a joke, even in her past life her parents had only disappointed her. Hoping for more would only hurt her, she had already learned that lesson multiple times.

Nothing has changed.

Shitty parents, shitty life, shitty future -

"Shiori-sama is everything alright?!" The guard outside her room burst into her room scanning for an intruder, a hand on his katana. Shiori had only gotten nightguards recently. Such a thing had previously only been her brother's privilege (poor Junichiro).

"Did I give you permission to enter," she sneered at the guard.

"But Shiori-sama!"

"Get out!"

Sensing no real threat the man straightened his posture before bowing in obedience and closed the door behind him.

Alone again Shiori could finally relax. Looking at the clock on her wall she could see it was about five-thirty in the morning. Knowing she wouldn't be getting any more sleep Shiori decided to get dressed and prepare herself for the day.

She had only finished putting on her kimono when she heard knocking on her door.

Who on earth would be bothering her at such an ungodly hour?

"I-it's me."

Ah, it was her uncle.

"What do you want?" she bit out. She could feel her whole day already souring.

In the past, Shiori had liked her uncle and would always confide in him whenever she had troubles. She used to take his advice when it came to pleasing her parents. She would often do whatever he wanted in hopes of pleasing him in the past.

Now she knew better. Looking back at her childhood, she could now see what a snake her uncle was. Pretending to be on your side when it was convenient than backstabbing you when he stood to gain nothing. Her uncle Eisuke would often slip up in front of her thinking she posed no threat. What Shiori took to be kind words of affirmation and love for his niece in the past, she now recognized to be lies to better manipulate her to his will.

Despite her harsh words, the man helped himself inside her room. He stood there awkwardly adjusting his glasses. Shiori could see the sun finally rising through her bedroom window, ready to light the day ahead of them.

"What is with men coming into my room today." she grumbled.

"S-Shiori-chan I think w-we should talk."

"Does Father know you're here," she pointedly asked him. Reaching out her senses she could feel the guard outside her room was also gone. Her uncle's silence was quite telling. Putting her hair up in a simple half-up do, she sat on her spare chair before facing him. Her simple movement to face him made him subtly flinch.

He didn't use to be afraid of her. It wasn't until after the incident the man seemed to develop an aversion to her. If she was a lesser person her feelings would be hurt (he thinks I'm a monster…).

"Well?" She pressed raising an eyebrow. As much as she would have liked to chase him out of her room, he unfortunately did hold higher status being her elder.

"Your Father… We were talking last night and… " he stopped not being able to get the words out of his mouth.

This is why she didn't like her uncle. While he presented himself to be lesser than her father, she knew now that presenting himself as an insecure man was part of his disguise.

"He intends to make me clan heir and you want me to decline?"

His gaze snapped up to her. She scoffed at his shocked expression.

"Why the surprise? Father met with the clan elders earlier this week to convince them to accept me as the next clan heir. The servants are already whispering. You think he would at least pretend to be sad that his son died…" she rolled her eyes.

Her father always prioritized his position as clan head over his family, not even her brother's death and mother's mental breakdown was going to stop him.

Her father had received a lot of backlash from her brother's unforeseen death and from his obscurity on exactly how it happened. He had told everyone that Junichiro had committed suicide, of all the excuses he could have used. They didn't explain why a territory appeared in the compound, why Shiori was covered in blood in the middle of the night, and her mother's sudden mental illness. All they did was put a gag order out. The few servants who had been present were put under binding vowels of silence.

It didn't escape people's notice however that Shiori was suddenly receiving special treatment right after her brother's death. The fact that she miraculously awakened her cursed technique also seemed too much of a coincidence. While there were records of people awakening a curse technique late in their lives, such incidents were considered rare and abnormal.

Everyone seemed to have accepted that a brush with death was what helped manifest the family's blood manipulation technique within her. The average awakening period was four to six, but Shiori's awakening at nine made her an outlier. Her father had been busy these past few weeks making excuses for her, and if rumors were to be believed, plotting to make her heir.

Shiori could vividly remember her father's smirk when he had seen her demonstrating her newfound power.

She also remembered her uncle looking at her in fear. Seeing her covered head to toe with blood and a wicked smile on her lips, he had called her a demon.

She was the one who actually killed her brother after all.

"Well? Don't you have anything to say?" her uncle had gotten quiet again after hearing her deduction. He wasn't even making eye contact with her. His figure looked quite solemn in her room.

"W-will you step down?" he managed to get out.

"I don't know, do I?"

At her taunt, her uncle glareed at her before quickly looking away. No one could seem to meet her gaze nowadays for some reason. She didn't think her heterochromatic eyes were particularly frightful, it wasn't like she had the six eyes like that Gojo kid.

She could see his expression twist from his frustration, he knew her compliance was key to his plans. She wouldn't listen to him mindlessley like she had before after all. She thought the ugly expression suited him better than the meek persona he chose to display. Her uncle was plotting something and she thinks she knows exactly how to play him so they both can get what they want.

"You want Noritoshi-kun to be the clan heir right?" she met his gaze head-on.

At her statement, her uncle's eyes subtly widened. Adjusting his glasses he blanked his expression. She could see sweat now forming on his brow.

"I don't know what you mean by that Shiori-chan. I just don't think you're suited to be the next clan head," not stuttering anymore he continued "Noritoshi-kun may be your stepbrother, but he is much more suited to be your father's heir. As a girl, you're not capable of leading the clan. It wasn't long ago you were crying to me about how you hated this place- "

"Enough!"

Her uncle stopped, surprised on his face. She had never raised her voice at him before.

More than anything Shiori hated to be reminded of how weak she used to be.

"Let's get to the point, you want to make Noritoshi-kun clan head. You'll use him as a figurehead to displace my father's power and then take over the clan from the shadows." this was what Shiori had been able to piece together in the short amount of time she had. She didn't have all the pieces yet, but she knew enough.

Shiori these past couple of weeks had been visiting her stepbrother and his mother on the weekends in an effort to… make amends.

The boy having suffered mental trauma now had amnesia. He remembered nothing about being kidnapped nor anything from that day. He was sent back to his mother's to recuperate and seemed mostly confused about why Shiori's presence unsettled his mother. The woman didn't like Shiori visiting their home but she had no power to refuse her visits.

It was during one of these weekend visits Shiori noticed her uncle dropping by her father's concubine quarters… It was from then on her suspicions grew. A little digging led her to find out he was trying to buy Noritoshi from his mother in order to groom him from an early age into one of his tools.

"...What do you want?" her uncle asked. His back was now straight as he directed his condescending gaze down at her.

She could work with this.


"Nee-sama! Nee-sama!"

Noritoshi ran to her across the garden with a bright smile on his face and a crown of flowers in his hands.

"Thank you Noritoshi-kun! Is this for me?" Plastering a smile on her face Shiori graciously accepted her stepbrother's offering and placed it on her head (was he always so cute?). "Why don't you take a break from playing and join us for tea? I brought sweets too!"

Shiori had brought things from cakes, mochi, pudding, cookies, and candy to bribe the boy and his mother.

"Can I?" Noritoshi looked at the sugar spread on the low table practically drooling. He looked at his mother Hinako for approval.

From the side of Shiori's eye, she could see the women hesitate before giving a nod in acquiescence.

Noritoshi with bright eyes sat next to his mother as she dutifully placed some mochi on her son's plate.

Sitting across from her on the engawa as she drank from her tea cup was Noritoshi's mother Hinata. She had pixie-cut hair and modest features. As she looked after her son, Shiori could see a shadow of how beautiful the older woman must've looked in her younger days. She could see why her father made her into one of his concubines, even if it was against her will.

Hinako's face unfortunately now seemed to be in a state of perpetual mourning. No doubt because of the stress from being dragged into clan politics.

Shiori let Noritoshi get a few bites of mochi in before she prodded him (he looks like a chipmunk).

"Noritoshi-kun you love your Mother right?" at Shiori's question Hinako turned stiff as a bored.

"Un! I love Kaa-chan!" her sweet little brother said unabashedly.

"You don't want your Kaa-chan to be bullied right?"

"S-shiori-sama." Shiori looked into Hinako's eyes and dared her to continue. The woman flinched and dropped her gaze.

"Noritoshi-kun… You want to protect her right?" Shiori pressed on, sipping her sencha tea.

"Y-yha." Noritoshi seeming to sense his mother's distress paused eating, his gaze turning confused.

"Our family doesn't like your mother. They are planning on separating you two."

This was true. There was a fraction in their clan who still wanted to push Noritoshi forward as clan heir despite Shiori's newfound powers.

"I-I don't want t-to leave…" Noritoshi eyes started welling up with unshed tears. His mother reached to grasp his hand tightly in hers.

Such open displays of emotions are what makes them easy targets, Shiori thought.

"W-why do they w-want her to leave?" Noritoshi's lip was trembling now.

"Because she's considered a concubine," Shiroi said this matter-of-factly

"But w-why is everyone so g-good to me?"

"Because they want you to be clan heir. With my brother Junichiro's passing, you are now the only male my father has born with a cursed technique."

"W-what does that mean?" Noritorishi's face filled with confusion. He didn't understand what the grownups wanted from him.

"I-I," this time it was his mother who was speaking up. Her face was pinched with uncertainly before her expression steadied. "I don't want to be separated from my son…"

"To rip a mother and her son apart is indeed cruel…" Shiori said pensively as she set her teacup down.

"What do you want from me?" the woman now looked unwavering into Shiori's eyes.

Noritoshi's mother was indeed shrewd after spending so much time with the family that made her life miserable. She had connected the dots on why Shiori had taken a sudden interest in them quite quickly. Old Shiori after all would not have wasted the time of day with her father's side piece.

"There is a way you don't have to be separated from your son…" Shiori hinted.

"You want him to be clan heir" She held her son closer to her side now.

"Yes… there is a large fraction among the Kamo family who wants to put Noritoshi-kun forward as a clan heir. With the power I have now I can… put in a word so that you don't have to be separated from your son and of course I'll make sure my mother won't bother you." her uncle Eisuke would make sure of that. He would use Noritoshi to hold his place as clan head while he secured his power within the family in the shadows. All he needed was an excuse to bring Noritoshi into the clan compound.

"What about you? Do you not want to be clan head? I may not know much about your world of curses but I know this is a good opportunity for you. You want to make my son heir but at what cost?" Noritoshi could only look between them in confusion at their conversation.

"I'll do it!" the boy suddenly spoke up.

"Toshi!" Hinata faced looked aghast at her son.

"I don't want to leave Kaa-chan!" Noritoshi's face was resolute as he said this.

Shiori held back a smirk as their conversation went along with her plans.

In the past Shiori would have done anything to gain her parent's approval to be recognized by the clan. Things were different now though, Shiori had lost hope in her clan long before her revelation. If anything her newfound memories only spurred her more to separate herself and leave the jujutsu world. Shiori had no intention of putting her life in danger for her family.

Some might call Shiori self-centered and opportunistic for trying to manipulate the poor woman in front of her to throw her son to the wolves, but Shiori had her own plans. Plans that involved her being far away from Japan before the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons. All she had to do was dump any expectations from her father onto her dear little brother.

Her uncle didn't think Noritoshi's mother would go for it, but Shiori had learned over her visits how protective Hinako was of her son. Shiori knew now that what Hinako wanted the most in the world was to shield her son from the monsters in this world. If that meant tolerating the Kamo family so her son could be safe, she would do it.

"Toshi No! It's not just curses I'm worried about! That family will take you away from me!" Hinako shook her son's shoulders, fear now lacing her voice.

"The Kamo clan will take good care of your son Hinako-san. My uncle has given his world to watch over him and see to his growth. Despite what you think of us we are prestigious. Under our care, your son will no doubt become a powerful Jujutsu Sorcerer capable of protecting himself. It goes without saying he'll gain wealth and status being clan heir." Shiori would hold off her father anointing her as heir, for as long as she could, until her uncle set the necessary foundations for Noritoshi to enter the clan.

"N-no! I-" the woman started to look afraid of Shiori. She looked at her as though she might kidnap her son the moment she turned her eyes away as Shiori's mother once did.

"Why don't you take some time to think about this." Shiori got up preparing to leave their humble abode. Pulling out her red flip phone -a recent gift from Sumire- she texted Minako to let her know she would be back soon.

Noritoshi having sensed the tension in the air chose to remain silent as his mother's face crumpled. She knew Shiori was right after all.

Hinako got up to walk Shiori to the genkan, Noritoshi wordlessly followed behind them. As Hinako wordlessly opened the front door for her, Shiori could see a black Mercedes-Benz car with fully tinted windows waiting for her at the front gate. Her designated driver stood outside its door as he waited for her to finish her business.

"You have my number, let me know your answer," Shiori said walking away, not bothering to wait for an answer.

She already knew what it would be after all.


Hi guys! I wrote so much I thought my hands would fall off. Writing a long chapter takes a lot of work!

I wanted this chapter to give more flesh to Shiori's personality and how she's changed from remembering her past life. I wanted to give her a villainess vibe who has suddenly gained a conscious because of Saori's memories.

Saori is part of Shiori now, but Shiori is still in denial that she has changed on a spiritual level.

Did I do an okay job conveying that? Someone tell me?

P.S.: has anyone read the current chapter of JJK? I finally caught up and I am in shock. I was so traumatized I almost stopped writing this fic. The mangaka who writes Over The Moon For You did take a hiatus.